Brian Mathieson and Morgan Parker: Creating a Culture of Enthusiasm around Postsecondary Success
Redefining Ready is a SchooLinks hosted podcast community exploring innovative topics, ideas, strategies, and philosophies in the evolving world of college and career readiness. Our featured guests are leaders in their fields who constantly seek to learn from others, collaborate, and apply their own experiences to truly distill best practices in the world of college and career readiness.
Listen in as Brian Mathieson and Morgan Parker join the program to talk about the culture of enthusiasm they have built around College and Career Readiness at Vancouver Public Schools. Vancouver takes a collaborative approach to the process with counselors and career specialists partnering to tailor their counseling to meet individual learners where they are. Following the motto of Enroll, Enlist, Employ, there is a postsecondary path out there for every student that should fall into one of those buckets. As the labor market is changing around us, success can no longer be defined simply by the percentage of students who are attending four year universities after high school. Communicating the abundant postsecondary possibilities to the entire school community is a constant process. So much more to this conversation! Listen in for more!
About Brian Mathieson
Dr. Brian Mathieson is a district-based school counseling specialist with Vancouver Public Schools. In his current position, he provides professional development and technical support to K-12 school counselors. He also partners with the Career and Technical Education and AVID departments to lead career/college readiness initiatives. His counseling team at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona earned Recognized ASCA Model (RAMP) designation from the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) by increasing AP course and exam participation and FASFSA completion rates (among other things). Dr. Mathieson has presented numerous times at the ASCA Annual Conference and currently serves as Past President of the Washington School Counselor Association.
About Morgan Parker
Morgan Parker currently serves as the Pathways Coordinator at Columbia River High School, where she works with the Counseling team to support 9th-12th graders in deciding their pathway for after high school. Prior to this role, Morgan spent the last ten years working in local workforce development programs, supporting youth ages 16 to 24 with completing their secondary education and moving into high-demand, living wage jobs. Most recently, Morgan served as the Director of Next, Clark County’s first and only one-stop youth center for education, training, and employment support. Morgan has experience in developing and implementing career readiness programs, interpreting and implementing state and local workforce policies, and working directly with business and community partners to improve access and opportunity for youth in Southwest Washington.
About Vancouver Public Schools
The first school in the Northwest was established at Fort Vancouver for the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1832. Vancouver School District was formed in 1852. Vancouver School of Arts and Academics is located in the building that was the second junior high school to open in the state of Washington. Vancouver Public Schools pioneers programs of choice. As a pilot site for National Teacher Certification, the district produced seven of the first nationally certified teachers. The National School Boards Association selected Vancouver as a technology visitation site three times — in 1993, 1999 and 2013. Thanks to a community-approved technology levy, students in grades three through 12 have one-to-one digital learning tools. College and Career Readiness at Vancouver Public Schools leverages technology and inter departmental collaboration to expose students to career clusters and different pathways so each student can make informed, individualized decisions about their postsecondary future.
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